In antiquity, people would embark on pilgrimages to dream temples or sleep temples. These shrines were associated with healing throughout the classical cultures of Greece, Rome and Egypt.
The ancient Egyptians highly revered dream therapy and divination. They had disciplined training and practices in dream journeying through the subconscious realms.
Details have been recorded in their ancient texts, the most well-known of which is the archived Egyptian Dream book, a hieratic papyrus dating back to the early reign of Ramesses II (1279–1213 B.C.E).
In Greek mythology, Hygeia, the goddess of health is depicted with a snake in her arms. She is the daughter of the medicine-god Asclepius and their restorative sanctuaries were consecrated to preventative medicine and holistic healing.
Another branch of the Greek family tree includes the gods of sleep, Hypnos and his son Morpheus. Pasithea, the wife of Hypnos is known as the goddess of relaxation. In etymology, the word insomnia is derived from the god Somnus, the roman counterpart of Hypnos (hypnosis).
A bewitching legacy exists in these
age-old civilisations and the preservation of sleep therapy. The devotional practice of dream incubation would begin with fasting and purification.
Cleansing with dedicated water, bathing, anointing, meditation and breath work were a primary focus in preparation of the mind, body and spirit.
Aspirants would pay homage to the deities or spirits by observing mystical prayers, chants and rituals.
When the auspicious time was divined, participants would enter the sanctum and lie on a consecrated rug or skin known as a klínè.
An experienced guide would offer the participant physical and emotional support during the trance-like state. The participant might rest for up to three days deciphering dreams and their sleep personality.
The intention would be to receive hidden messages through dream exploration into health, well-being and soul growth.
These precognitive messages accessed enlightenment and a deeper insight into life.
No matter how we view life our subconscious has an important part to play in understanding ourselves better.
Whether dreams are communications with the Divine or psychologically based, conducted research has indicated dreaming can alleviate stress and support mood regulation.
Traditionally there were three types of dreams; literal, symbolic and prophetic. This was the beginning of what we now know as transpersonal dream therapy.
Sleep temples offered participants the capacity to restore equilibrium to their lives as they realised the importance of dream guardianship. This still rings true for today as we need our dreams for emotion health and mental well-being.
Maybe this is the link to the past dream temples and present-day interpretation as we search for a deeper meaning to our existence?
Stardust blessings
¸.•´¸.•*•❥• Mik∆ilah STar Witch Astrology •❥•*¨*•.¸¸..♡
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